Chapter 50 Lenna
Chapter fifty
Lenna
The portal was ready as the sun set in Florra.
Laurent had barely left its side these past few days, stating the finesse it took to transport five beings while also keeping most of his magic intact was the reason for being so protective of it.
Apparently, making a portal where the exit wouldn’t appear until precisely when they went through it was something even Laurent and his expertise had admitted he wasn’t masterful at.
Lenna and Sparrow snuck peeks at the portal once or twice, but were shooed away each time by Laurent. He wouldn’t let anyone except Merrick into the living room until it was done.
Esmeray had been in and out of the house, citing she had a few avenues to explore to make sure she was prepared to take on Adara.
Sparrow hadn’t asked, and when Lenna had, Sparrow told her that was just “Meer being Meer,” and to leave it at that.
Sometimes the Queen came back dejected, slamming the door shut to her bedroom.
Sometimes she came back covered in blood.
If that was the case, Sparrow would give her a pointed look–but ultimately sigh and wave a hand, the sound of the tub in Esmeray's room filling with water a compromise in itself.
Finally, Lenna had gone to Esmeray directly, feeling slightly guilty for going behind Sparrow.
When she asked Esmeray where she was going, Esmeray sighed softly and admitted she was trying to find any information on the missing beings to see if anyone could pinpoint who had been taken, or if there were any leads.
Esmeray said she was using illusions to infiltrate cities and ask questions, listen, and to try to gather any tidbits or details that could be useful.
From the drawn look on Esmeray’s face, Lenna came to the conclusion there was no new direction–the search was coming up empty.
And the Queen was taking it hard and personally.
Lenna had come to care for cocky, sarcastic Esmeray.
Lenna became used to the smirk and the sass and was in awe of the ease and confidence the Queen exuded.
Lenna even considered Esmeray a dear friend, and they had spent the last day while Laurent finished the portal telling stories of their pasts to each other whenever they had a moment to sit down.
The glittering green eyes and the swishing curtain of black hair leaving a room was as familiar to Lenna now as her own red curls.
Black wings launching off the patio was a normal sight, and Lenna found herself watching Esmeray as she flew off, hoping and praying her friend would make it back safely.
The silent, soulless, bloodthirsty Esmeray that stormed out of the bedroom this morning was not the being Lenna was familiar with–the haunted look in Esmeray’s eyes put Lenna on edge.
That look scared her more than stepping foot in the Opal Palace, or projecting the Prism’s memory to an entire court.
Lenna hoped the Esmeray that came back from the Opal Palace still had her soul intact.
But she pushed it down. The portal was ready. Laurent had given them an hour warning telling them to get dressed and to make it quick.
Now, Lenna stood in the hall by the kitchen, swallowing trepidation as she chanced a look at herself in the mirror Sparrow hung to make the hallway seem wider than it was.
In Lenna’s small bathroom mirror, she had only taken a quick glance at herself before losing her nerve and scooting out of the room.
But here, now, the reflection staring back was a different sort of stranger than the reflection that haunted her in Doortan.
She was dressed in soft black armor, the heavy leather material specifically designed for her curves.
Flexible panels of golden metal protected her shins and her stomach, and harnesses strapped around her thick thighs, cradling the daggers Esmeray had given her.
Lenna twisted and turned in the mirror. A hum began to roil through her blood, as if even her very bones said, look, look at you–this is you.
The knowledge that she was needed and integral to this plan made her heart swell.
She felt more important this past week than she had in thirty years.
Esmeray and Sparrow strode out of fae female’s bedroom simultaneously. Lenna took one look at the pair and knew blood would be spilled tonight.
Sparrow was dressed simply, but lethally.
The leather she wore was white, with the same flexible golden armor Lenna wore.
Sparrow’s top came up to her throat, down to her hands, held in place with thin loops that hooked to her middle fingers.
Her hair was pinned back, out of her face, showcasing her pointed ears.
A sword was strapped down her back, keeping her hands free for whatever gifts she would utilize.
Lenna realized with a start that she hadn’t seen Sparrow use much magic besides making flowers bloom.
Lenna wasn’t sure what Sparrow kept hidden but the blacked-out tattoo that covered half her arm alluded to some deadly surprises.
One look at Esmeray, and Lenna’s heart stuttered.
Esmeray was dressed in black leathers as Lenna, but without any armor protecting vital organs.
Her top was designed as a harness, wrapping around the back of her slim neck and buckling at the side, leaving her arms and wings exposed.
The black leather pressed against her breasts, pushing them up, the tight black breeches curving around her muscled thighs.
Her wings and horns complimented the picture she portrayed of death itself.
Either from illusion magic or if Esmeray had sharpened them, the talons gleaming atop the apex of her wings and at the bottom junctures of the black membranes were wickedly pointed and looked ready to slash into unfortunate souls blocking her warpath.
But it was the crown that sat atop her head, perfectly formed to wrap around the base of her horns, that made Lenna pause.
The golden crown displayed a huge black diamond held in the center by two entwined golden serpents.
The Queen of Nothing was about to make an entire Kingdom bow.
Without knowing exactly why, Lenna did just that, bowing down onto one knee.
Before her Queen.
Lenna felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Esmeray kneeling before her, a soft smile illuminating her face. “Rise, Oracle,” Esmeray murmured softly, curling a finger under Lenna’s chin. The Queen’s dagger nails were gentle against her skin as she guided Lenna up.
“You look…badass.” Esmeray grinned wide, her fangs peeking out as she took in Lenna’s armor. Lenna blushed and crinkled her nose sheepishly at the compliment but was relieved to see some of Esmeray’s normal demeanor peeking out.
The three stood in the hallway for a moment, before Merrick appeared from the living room, dressed in flexible grey armor with many scuffs marring the leather.
His dark brown eyes were somber, the assortment of daggers and swords strapped and belted to his body alluding to his proficiency in battle.
Lenna couldn’t count how many weapons the gargoyle carried.
“It’s time,” he rasped, his tone commanding and curt.
The voice of a lethal King’s Guard. Lenna felt sweat begin beading on her body as she trailed after them into the living room.
The portal stood, thrumming with impatience, before Laurent.
The swirls of smoke were gone, leaving only pure white light in its wake.
The power radiating from it was palpable, making Lenna’s chest heavy with pressure.
The portal Lenna traveled through from Doortan had been half the size of the one currently pulsing in Sparrow’s living room.
Laurent turned to take them all in, dressed in his usual styled robe, but these were matte black with golden threading woven through the seams.
“No goodbyes,” Sparrow said quietly. “We go in together, we come out together with Keerian.”
“No goodbyes,” Esmeray repeated firmly, as she looked from Merrick and Laurent to Sparrow and Lenna.
They gripped each other’s hands, faces grim. Everything on the other side of this portal was unknown. The only thing Lenna knew for certain was that her soul would never be the same after this.